Arsenal‘s search for another defender has moved from sensible planning to genuine necessity.
Mikel Arteta already had reasons to strengthen his back line before William Saliba suffered a serious back injury at the World Cup. The Frenchman is now expected to miss several months, removing the defender who normally gives Arsenal speed, calmness and authority on the right of central defence.
Jurrien Timber is also unavailable with a groin problem, while Ben White has endured his own fitness troubles. That leaves the Premier League champions facing the new season without two of their most trusted options on the right side.
Gabriel remains the defensive leader and Arsenal also have Piero Hincapié, Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera. The problem is that none can perfectly replicate everything Saliba brings.
|
Arsenal’s best defenders in the Premier League last season |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Main position |
Apps |
Starts |
Goals |
Assists |
Yellow cards |
Red cards |
Minutes |
Clean sheets when starting |
Clean-sheet rate |
|
Gabriel Magalhães |
Centre-back |
32 |
30 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
2,751 |
17 |
56.7% |
|
William Saliba |
Centre-back |
31 |
30 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2,615 |
15 |
50.0% |
|
Jurriën Timber |
Right-back / Centre-back |
30 |
28 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
2,457 |
11 |
39.3% |
|
Riccardo Calafiori |
Left-back / Centre-back |
26 |
22 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
1,708 |
4 |
18.2% |
|
Piero Hincapié |
Centre-back / Left-back |
25 |
20 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1,792 |
4 |
20.0% |
|
Cristhian Mosquera |
Centre-back |
20 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
989 |
2 |
22.2% |
|
Myles Lewis-Skelly |
Left-back / Midfielder |
20 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
698 |
2 |
40.0% |
|
Ben White |
Right-back / Centre-back |
12 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
704 |
3 |
33.3% |
Arteta wants a defender who can start immediately, handle a high defensive line and cover right back when required.
Jarell Quansah has emerged as one alternative, with the Guardian reporting Arsenal have opened talks with Bayer Leverkusen over the former Liverpool defender, although the German club value him at around £43 million and do not want to lose him.
Arsenal have also reportedly looked at Barcelona’s Jules Koundé and Atlético Madrid full-back Marc Pubill during a wider search led by sporting director Andrea Berta.
However, Ezri Konsa may be the player Arteta trusts most.
The England international has spent seven years at Aston Villa after arriving from Brentford in 2019. He has developed into a composed, reliable centre back under Unai Emery and can move across to the right when required.
Konsa also brings extensive Premier League experience, played a central role in Villa’s Europa League triumph last season and featured for England at the World Cup.
His contract runs until 2028, giving Villa complete control of the situation, but not for much longer unless he extends.
Emery’s side are still said to have rejected an earlier Arsenal approach this summer worth £30 million, and given Konsa’s standing, it’s going to take double that amount to convince them to do a deal.
Ezri Konsa ‘very, very’ keen on joining Arsenal after speaking to players
Insider HandOfArsenal now claims Konsa is the preferred target for both Arsenal and Arteta as the Gunners attempt to find a solution before the transfer deadline on September 1.
The insider reports that Villa are demanding £60 million and remain firm on that valuation, with there currently being no indication they are using the figure simply to invite negotiations.
Konsa himself is apparently ‘very, very’ keen on joining Arsenal but has not asked Villa to sell him or attempted to force the issue.
It is also claimed he has spoken with a few Arsenal players about the transfer speculation and what life is like inside Arteta’s squad.
That interest from the player could help Arsenal, but it does not weaken Villa’s negotiating position.
Konsa is experienced, versatile and ready to play immediately, three qualities Arsenal badly need while Saliba recovers. That said, paying £60m for him would be a major commitment.
It is a difficult call, but Saliba’s absence has left little room for delay.
If Villa refuse to compromise, Arsenal must decide whether Arteta’s preferred defender is worth the premium or whether someone like Quansah offers better long-term value.
